For two straight years since 2017 Startup Anambra has brought together policy makers, stakeholders, startups, successful entrepreneurs, emerging entrepreneurs as well as the academia to connect, learn, expose and discuss ways to attract investment to startups and founders residing and operating out of Anambra State and the South-Eastern part of Nigeria.
This year being the second edition of the annual gathering held on the 10th day of November 2018 at the-Geogold Hotels, Awka.
StartupAnambra gathering is an annual conference designed to educate and connect people with brilliant ideas to people looking to invest in ideas, solutions, businesses and solutions as the ultimate goal of StartupAnambra is to awaken the consciousness of younger generations/entrepreneurs (emphasis on those operating within the Anambra State/South-East corridors) to opportunities and trends within the global entrepreneurial community.
It will be recalled that during the maiden edition of the annual gathering, Young Entrepreneurs agreed to proffer solutions to business sustainability in Anambra State through building solutions that solves local problem.
Some of the Attendees captured during the StartupAnambra2.0
StartupAnambra2.0 is the perfect opportunity for investors to discover innovative startups in Anambra State as well as the South-Eastern part of Nigeria. We believe Africans can solve Africa’s problem if they borrow a leaf from the men who built America. We need individuals to solve specific problems and become successful at solving them.
The event brought in the Likes of Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata “CFA” from Channels TV, Mrs Uchenna Onwuamaegbu-Ugwu, the CEO and president of Edfuntecnik Center who doubles as the first African Lady to win the Technovation Prize in Silicon Valley, Mr Daniel Chinagozi, the founder of Innovation Growth Hub, Aba, Onyinyechi Nmecha, The CEO of Extraclass who also doubles as the national Vice president of the Nigeria Association of Computer Science Students as well as the founder of SheTechEast(A girl Child movement focused on training girls in southeastern part of Nigeria Technological Skills), Mr Ifeanyi Aniagoh the senior special assistant to Governor willie obianor on youth development and digital entrepreneurship, Chukwurah Chuka, the CEO and founder of Progxap/Devamplify Hub, the foremost technology and incubation Hub in southeastern Nigeria, Uzochukwu Mbamalu, Engr Chidiebere Ugwuegbulam, Tochukwu Ositadimma, Chidindu Mmadu-Okoli, Mr Micheal Orehkey and the host of other resource persons and dignitaries present.
Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata CFA contributing during the StartupAnambra2.0 gathering
Also some secondary schools who graced the event includes St. John of God secondary school Awka, Amaenyi girls secondary school, awka and Tansi International College Awka stated the lack of Entrepreneurship and Technology training in schools urging the governments to come to their aid as they all wish to start at a tender age to understand how stuffs work.
Students of St. John of God secondary School, Awka during the StartupAnambra2.0 Gathering
The highlights of the event includes fireside chats, panel discussions on topical issues, networking and pitching session by young and emerging startups, exhibition and an after conference discussion amongst others also gave the participants an opportunity to ask their bugging questions and utilizes the mentoring and one on one session to connect with the experts.
The convener, Mr Pascal Okeke who also doubles as the CEO of Bigcode stated that this year’s edition is the biggest startup/entrepreneurship convergence ever held in south-east/south-south region of Nigeria also stating that he derives passion in building solutions and models that works for young people. He further thanked The Anambra Broadcasting Service, Devamplify Hub, Bigcode, Daily Times Newspapers, Eduresearch, The Nigeria Information and Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Smartweb, Whogohost, TMM, Ventures platform and everybody who contributed to make this year’s edition a success saying that the event wouldn’t have been possible without their sponsorship and support.
Mr Pascal Okeke, The convener of StartupAnambra
He therefore charges the startups/participants to “double their hustle” to building solutions that will outlast them. He further asked the government to make policies that will foster the growth of Startups in the state and region. And thanked all the participants who attended this year’s edition promising that come next year, they will not just be bigger but span across South-Eastern States.
Other who spoke during and after the conference registered their joy at seeing young people attend events and ask questions that matters to them. Some participants who spoke to newsmen stated that their joy knew no bound as the result was more than expected.
Mr Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata promised to use everything within his reach to help startups from this region to scale also charging them to embrace opportunities and work towards building systems and businesses that are problem solving, innovative and scalable.
Mr Ifeanyi Aniagoh who spoke on the capacity of the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Obiano said the government will do more to building avenues and policies that will enable startups within the states to grow also stating that the government are bridges upon which the citizens cross to the other side of their journey.
Mrs Uchenna Onwuamaegbu-Ugwu and Chidindu Mmadu-Okoli charged the secondary school students and the younger generation to embrace STEM education and building on their strength as the new way to go also using the opportunity to tell her story as well as the journey to Silicon Valley.
Mr Chukwurah Chuka talked about the Yaba/Lagos mentality and urged developers and entrepreneurs to continue to build irrespective of their location, leveraging on the media and networks like the StartupAnambra community for their support and publicity. He also spoke about Devamplify Hub and their commitments to helping statups grow and expand.
Till night, participants sat at the feet of Chukwuemeka Fred agbata “CFA” and others like the biblical Jesus for the final sermon and blessing where they discussed further issues and ways to go around surviving in the East.
I really appreciate this job well done. Thanks for adding to the already existing knowledge.
God bless Pascal and team, start up anambra is an eye opener